Our Favorite Movies of 2010

Flipped

I’d never heard of the book “Flipped” by author Wendelin Van Draanen, but when I showed the trailer for the Rob Reiner-directed film to my daughter she exclaimed it was on of her favorite books. I was fortunate enough to see this wonderful little gem of a film about the coming of age of a young boy and girl – but sadly it never received a wide theatrical release. It was pitch-perfect in tone, story and the performances by the two lead actors Callan McAuliffe and Madeline Carroll.

RED

RED always looked like it was going to be a fun little action movie, but it surpassed my expectations by a mile. Bruce Willis was at his best here, even though he played a personality opposite of John McClane from the Die Hard series: Calm and cool, even in the most extreme situations. The film had a stellar, older cast, wonderful dialogue, humor and great action to boot. Of course it received bonus points from me (an older guy) for portraying a bunch of supposedly over the hill actors (including Helen Mirren) as total badasses.

Blue Valentine

Blue Valentine proved that a romantic drama can still move us when it’s done in a raw, truthful manner that reflects the reality of modern romance. The performances by Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams prove they are two of the best actors of their generation. For more on this great film, read my full Blue Valentine review.

Monsters

Gareth Edwards’ thoughtful look at love, desperation, and fear of the unknown in a gritty world following an alien “invasion” quickly wracked up comparisons to Neill Blomkamp’s sci-fi drama, District 9. However, what makes Monsters a standout film of 2010 is that it successfully marries art-house indie drama with a fully-realized sci-fi landscape – proving that it doesn’t take headline actors, the studio system, or millions of dollars to make a compelling character-focused drama… featuring CGI aliens. Shot with only two principle actors and a skeleton crew, Monsters tells a quality human (and alien) story that isn’t dominated by the tropes of blockbuster aliens-invade-earth films.

Buried

While not an award-season favorite, Buried is certainly one of the most ambitious films of the year, as the entire 95 minute runtime is confined to the inside of a dark wooden box. Ryan Reynolds succeeds in playing off of voices at the other end of a glowing cell phone and director Rodrigo Cortés keeps the tension high through these disembodied characters – without ever having to show viewers the greater conflict outside the box. Despite the confines of the set, Buried manages to tell an intriguing and intense story that quickly invests audiences in the main character, the fight for his life, and his heartbreaking lack of options.

Another Year

While 2010 provided some thrilling blockbusters, Mike Leigh’s subtle, affecting, and keenly observed seasonal drama Another Year was one of THE best films of the year for me.Using the convenient narrative structure of the four seasons, it takes us through the lives of a group of family and friends and how their actions – or lack thereof – affect one another. The film’s impact is helped largely by the performances from the likes of Jim Broadbent, Imelda Staunton, and particularly Lesley Manville as a single alcoholic 40-something latching onto any sort of attention and love that’s thrown her way.

Do yourself a favor and seek out Leigh’s latest dramatic offering – I promise you won’t regret it.

Ip Man

Not many people have seen this action/period drama but those who have will tell you that Ip Man is quite possibly the best martial arts film to come out of Hong Kong in the past 10 years. Donnie Yen plays the title role of Ip Man, a Wing Chun master, living in 1940s China with his wife and son. Teaching the locals the ways of his Kung Fu, Ip Man is a pacifist, choosing only to fight when there is absolutely no other choice.

When Imperialist Japan invades and takes control of his village, Ip Man makes the decision to fight back – which leads to an intense battle of martial arts, pitting his Wing Chun against the Karate skills of a sadistic Japanese general. Beautifully shot, impressively choreographed and a compelling story all combine to make Ip Man my favorite movie of 2010.

Ca$h

Stephen Millburn Anderson wrote and directed this indie crime-drama starring Sean Bean and Thor‘s Chris Hemsworth in his first American made film ever (Star Trek was his first to be released but Ca$h was the first one he made). Bean plays twin brothers, one who commits crimes brashly and the other, Pyke Kubic, who does things smoothly and under the radar. When the spoils of a robbery commited by Pyke’s brother end up in the hands of Sam Phelan (Hemsworth) and his wife, Pyke enters their life to recover every last cent – and together, the trio takes a wild trip that reveals aspects of their inner selves that none of them knew existed.

Sean Bean, as always, is fantastic in Ca$h and is one of the main reasons, besides the interesting story, why this movie succeeds.

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darren j seeley 4 years ago

Just when I thought it was another useless Best Of 2010 post by SR folks, you all surprised me. A mention of Ip Man. Nice.

Other than that…

One day, there will be a Best Of Direct To Video top ten.
(Planet Hulk, for example)

Nice list! I liked just about all them. Glad Ip Man made the list but the best in ten years?? That’s quite a bold statement I thought Hero, True Legend, Painted Skin, and 7 Swords were all pretty awesome films too. I actually thought the second Ip was better than the first but that’s just my humble opinion…

I hear you Ip Man was awesome but I thought Hero was a much better film all around, and as far as fight scenes go Flashpoint was terrible but the fight scene at the end was one of the best i’ve ever seen period…(witch happened to be Donnie) but like i said that’s my humble opinion.

Ip Man was a great martial arts film! I used to watch martial arts films religiously, and this incredible movie reignited my passion.

I have seen Ip Man 2, and it is also great! I saw it is getting a theatrical release in the US later this month, and I would highly recommend it. I would say some of the fight scenes surpass the original.

I only ever saw the first Harry Potter and Inception was pretty amazing but I’m not as much of a science fiction kind of movie goer so I don’ think I loved it like some did. I would pick Catfish, Black Swan and 127 Hours. I think I’d pick some others if I’d seen them, they are on my list now though, thank you.

Great list of films, great year for films, and I cannot wait for an even better year in the cinema next year!! My top 15 of 2010 is –

1. Toy Story 3
2. Kick-Ass
3. Due Date
4. Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World
5. Inception
6. How To Train Your Dragon
7. Easy A
8. Cemetery Junction
9. The Social Network
10. Catfish
11. Up In The Air
12. Buried
13. The Death And Life Of Charlie St. Cloud
14. The Town
15. Shutter Island

Other special mentions must also go to Despicable Me, Brothers, A Single Man, The Killer Inside Me, Going The Distance, Let Me In, Youth In Revolt, Chloe and Dinner For Schmucks!!

Can’t wait to see The Fighter, Black Swan, The Kings Speech, 127 Hours and True Grit of the next few weeks aswel

Meh! To each their own, but the only movies that I really liked in the year 2010 were “The Kids Are All Right”, “Winter’s Bone”, “Shutter Island” (although that was a little overrated, imo.), and “Billy The Kid”.

I’m really not a big fan of “The Town”, because it was way too over the top in many ways, had a poor script, an immature romance between Doug and Claire, plus it conveys the message to me, personally, that anything goes as long as people get what they want, and that people don’t have to be held accountable for the actions and behaviors.